Abhanga 4418
Constantly speaking God's name turns even death into something obedient, and that simple practice alone can make a life feel complete.
The verse
रामनामाचे पवाडे । अखंड ज्याची वाचा पढे ॥१॥
धन्य तो एक संसारीं । रामनाम जो उच्चारी ॥ध्रु.॥
रामनाम गर्जे वाचा । काळ आज्ञाधारक त्याचा ॥ २ ॥
तुका म्हणे रामनामीं । कृतकृत्य जालों आम्हीं ॥३॥
Literal translation
Rāma-Nāma-pravāḍē — akhaṇḍa-vāchā-recites. Dhanya-samsārī — Rāma-Nāma-uchchārī. Vāchā-roars-Rāma-Nāma — Kāḷa-ājñā-dhāraka. Tukā: Rāma-Nāmīm — krta-krtya-jālōm.
What it means
A 3-verse Rāma-Nāma-supremacy text. (He whose) tongue unbroken recites the Rāma-Nāma's praises — dhanya that one in samsāra. When the tongue roars Rāma-Nāma — Kāḷa becomes his command-bearer. Tukā says: in the Rāma-Name we have accomplished our purpose. The doctrine: unbroken-Rāma-Nāma-recital → Kāḷa-becomes-obedient → krta-krtya.
For someone today
Tukaram says that whoever keeps Rama's name constantly on their tongue is truly fortunate in this life. When someone's voice roars out that name without break, even death itself becomes obedient to them, no longer something to fear. Tukaram closes by saying that through this simple practice of naming Rama, he has already found everything he was seeking, his purpose is complete.
मराठी: तुकाराम सांगतात की ज्याच्या जिभेवर सतत रामनाम असते, तो या संसारात खरोखर धन्य आहे. जेव्हा एखाद्याची वाणी अखंडपणे रामनामाचा गजर करते, तेव्हा काळसुद्धा त्याच्या आज्ञेचे पालन करतो, त्याला घाबरण्याची गरज उरत नाही. तुकाराम शेवटी म्हणतात की या साध्या रामनामाच्या साधनेतूनच त्यांना जे हवे होते ते सगळे मिळाले, त्यांचे जीवितकार्य पूर्ण झाले.
Where this applies
- When you want a single, repeatable practice to anchor your day instead of a complicated routine
- When fear of death or mortality weighs on you and you want a way to face it steadily
- When you feel like your life needs a sense of accomplished purpose
- When you want proof that a simple habit, done consistently, can be genuinely powerful